Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-08


the effect is worst if a large amount OF
dirt is piled around trees, rs is often
done in making cellars. II the tree is
at all valuable draw the dirt some
where away from it. A depth OF
foot OF subsol spread over the surface
under tree has entirely killed it, the |
tree not beng able to make new roots
above in time, and those below being |
efiiectually shut out from light and air.
1t is not the poverty Of the subsoil that
does this. An equal thickness of rich
soil would produce the same effect, and
piles of stable manure around trees are
even more fatal because the teachings
from fresh manure are too strong for
the tender feeding roots to take up.
THIN-sHELLED EGGS.
Some kinds Of poultry have been
breed to produce nearly the possible
limit Of eggs. and the failure of the
hen to provide tho exquisite material
for her daily product is more likely
than not to be shown in its shell. The
can be accumulated and passed
through the system daily. With free
range fowls pick up an enormous
amount and great variety OF food.
Thin shells are not often found where
fowls are allowed to run at will. But
if they are obliged to live on what is
fed them the latter has rarely enough
lime in its composition. Ground bones
are the best form for giving lime TO
fowls, as in them much nutrition in
their gelatine is mixed with the miner
al. But they will eat more of common
lime in day than any one would sup
pose while laying freely. If allowed to
lay thin-s helled eggs hens soon get in
the habit of eating them, and this
makes the fowls worthless.
BRAN FOR HORSE FEED.
Bran is so light that it is popularity
| believed that there is little substance
or value in it. In warm mash es for
COWS it gives great increase in the
milk yield, as every farmer knows
Most OF them account for this, howev-
Ell, by the belief that milk is so largely
water, and that the water which cows
drink with the bran is mainly response
bic for the increasing supply of milk
But the substance in both milk and
bran is greatly underestimated. Milk,
even after its cream is removed. is a
very nourishing food, and its nutri-
ment is of the kind that the brand is
pecul arly adapted to supply. 1t sup
plies the protene which appears in the
albumen of milk. Precisely the same
kind of materials arc required 10 give
strength TO working horses. Those
who feed bran to horses largely are
most in favor of it. One OF its advant-
ages is IN keeping the horse from be-
coming constipated on dry feed and
grain. 1t is a cheap and valua BILE feed
for horses at any time, and cs pecially
while changing their coats in the
Spring.
SEED CORN.
Corn that would grow used formerly
to be all that was necessary IN selecting
seed. To ascertain this fact spec mems
were brought in the house and tested
by planting in a box of earth kept near
warm fire. This is much less Sc
we're test than planting in the open
ground. Samples that would grow all
right in the house failed when planted
in the field. Not only this, but
the higher vitality of the best seed
insured more rapid and vigorous growth
and darker color Of the leaves Keep
ing seed corn in a warm, dry place in
sures this. All the moisture that can
be dried out of seed corn has. after
planting, TO be absorbed from the soil
with which it is in contact. This makes
the soil dryer and invites the admis-
sion of warm air from the surface.
This may explain why farmers have
found no benefit or positive injury from
soaking seed corn, and have abandoned
the practice. though not able to ex-
plain why it should not be an advant-
age. Corn ground should at planting
time be in fine filth. If this is the fact,
it will never lack moisture to gener
ate the seed however dry 1t may be
when planted
MAKING A HOME MARKET.
II is the misfortune of farmers that
they do everything in such a wholesale
way that they can not get time to
market their products in the best man
ner. Thus the prevalent complaint
that middlemen fix the price and take
so large share Of the profit. With
grain growers this is inevitable. 1t is
rarely, if ever, that the wheat grower
can supply the man who eats the wheat.
1t has to 60 to the miller, paying the
profit not only on grinding and making
into flour. but an additional charge for
handling the wheat. And in cities q
large proportion of families let the
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